Acting President Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday stated an emergency when anti-government protests continued to boil in the midst of an acute financial crisis that gripped the island state.
The action occurred when the Sri Lanka parliament met to elect a new president, the results of which were expected to be announced on July 20. The top constitutional post was emptied by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after he fled the country last week after a massive protest against him. Rajapaksa is currently sheltering in Singapore, where a small group of people holds a demonstration that demands that he be in -boot.
1. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated an emergency in an effort to extinguish social riots and overcome the deeper economic crisis. “This is wise, to be done, for the sake of public security, protection of public order and maintenance of inventory and services that are important for people’s lives,” said the notification.
2. Sri Lanka Parliament met on Saturday to start the process of electing a new president. The top competitor in the race is Ranil Wickremesinghe, reportedly supported by Rajapaksas and the ruling party; Sajith Premadasa, leader of the main opposition of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party (SJB); Dullas Alahappema, a senior parliament member who was pegged as a dark horse in the President’s race, and JVP leader Marxis Anura Kumara was said.
3. Resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa was received by parliament on Friday. He flew to the Maldives and then Singapore after hundreds of thousands of protesters, angry at his regime because of the wrong handling the economic crisis that made the country bankrupt, exit to Colombo’s paths a week ago and occupied its official residence and other government buildings.
4. Singapore’s authorities reportedly told Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was overthrown that they would not extend their lives in the cities. Rajapaksa landed there last Thursday, about what the Singapore government was referred to as “personal visit”. He has not asked asylum and he was also not given asylum, said the Singapore Foreign Ministry.
5. Fuel delivery arrives to provide assistance to Sri Lanka. Because of the economic destruction, this island country has lacking money to pay for imports of basic needs such as food, fertilizer, medicines and fuel for 22 million people. Now in talks with international monetary funds for bailouts.
